Two members of police staff who twisted and grabbed the arms of a man in custody have been ordered to pay him £100 in compensation.

David Healer, of Seaham, screamed in pain as he was assaulted by police custody sergeant Stephen Harvey and civilian detention officer Michael Mount to make him answer questions after his arrest in March last year.

The attack, at Peterlee Police Station, was condemned as a form of torture by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Harvey, 50, and Mount, 61, were each convicted of two counts of common assault at a trial at Teesside Magistrates’ Court in March.

They have been told to pay £50 each to Mr Healer as compensation.

Harvey was told to pay £1,395 in fines and costs for his role in the attack, while Mount was told to pay a total of £730.

Footage of the incident was played to the court.

It showed Harvey twisting Mr Healer’s arm behind his back as Mount held his other arm. He was then grabbed by both wrists across the custody suite desk by both defendants after again refusing to answer questions.

DIY shop boss Mr Healer, who sat in the public gallery to watch the sentencing, left the courtroom wiping his eyes as his screams of pain were played on the DVD.

Harvey, of Chester-le-Street, and Mount, of Thornley, both County Durham, argued that they used reasonable force to restrain Mr Healer, who had been arrested on suspicion of breaching bail conditions and assaulting a police officer.